Contents

Beginnings

Currie's parents, John Currie and Mary Riddell, immigrated from Selkirk, Scotland in 1883 to the wool mill town of Almonte, Ontario, Canada [2] which is close to Ottawa, Ontario. Alex was born in Almonte.

All his siblings joined their father in working for the wool industry. However, Currie had a different ambition. Taking a job with the railways at age 17, his job took him far from the mill town of his youth to many small towns across Ontario and Manitoba. In Port Arthur, Ontario, he married Anne Snook on 3 June 1914, 6 years after starting with the CPR.

He moved with his family to Manitoba in 1917.

Given his mother's age at his birth, it is possible that he is actually the son of his "sister", Christena, by some unknown father, which would invalidate his entire patrilinial Currie lineage from Scotland.

Marriage and family

With his wife he had three sons: Jack, Neill, Clyde, and three daughters: Flora (Heylar), Marian (Gillis), and Norma. Norma died at age 6, of diphtheria [3]. Despite the lack of family planning technology available at the time, all their children were born two years apart and most in June.

His children were gifted musically:

Jack played clarinet professionally in the 1930s.

Neill played and taught flute while attending the University of Winnipeg circa 1941.

Clyde played cornet with the "Greenwood Orchestra" (according to his obituary, although this orchestra is unattested) and the Royal Canadian Air Force Band circa 1945.

Death

Winnipeg Free Press, 3 June 1964

On 3 June 1964, he celebrated with his wife their 50th wedding anniversary at the Airliner Motor Hotel in Winnipeg. On the very same day, his son Jack celebrated with his wife Lucy their 25th wedding anniversary.

Later that same year, on 6 September 1964, Currie died at age 74. His death was caused by a sudden and unexpected stroke (according to Marilyn Hermiston).